During her exclusive interview with ABC News, Shellie said a part of her feels as though she was left hung out to dry after her husband did not stand up for her when she lied to the judge about how much donations they had received.

"She was scared," her attorney, Kelly Sims, said after Wednesday's hearing. "Her husband was locked up. She didn't know what was going on. So, she stood by her man, like Tammy Wynette says."

Shellie told ABC News investigative freelance journalist Christi O'Connor that she felt "very much alone" without him in the courtroom to support her as she pleaded guilty Wednesday, even though she stuck by his side the entire time.